The Group H favourites were ahead after just 10 minutes against Mauritius, who are ranked 176th in the FIFA World Ranking -- some 142 places below their hosts.

Christian Atsu opened the scoring, heading home a Harrison Afful cross for his ninth international goal, and it was 2-0 shortly afterwards when Jordan Ayew was presented with a tap-in by Jeffrey Schlupp.

Asamoah Gyan then scored a quickfire brace and, while J.S. Piesie reduced the deficit, it was 5-1 by the 38th minute as Ayew netted his second of the game with an excellent strike.

Schlupp's added a sixth in the 69th minute, his first ever for Ghana, before David Accam rounded off the scoring.

Also in Ghana's group, Rwanda won 1-0 away to Mozambique, with Ernest Sugira getting the decisive goal after just three minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice to earn Togo a 2-1 Group A victory over Liberia having been dropped from the squad to face Ghana in a friendly last week after reportedly failing to report to the training camp.

Adebayor earned maximum points for Tom Saintfiet's side, who had gone behind when William Jebor struck three minutes before half-time but levelled through the Tottenham striker soon after the break.

Cameroon needed a last-minute goal as they edged past Mauritania 1-0 at home.

Porto striker Vincent Aboubakar produced a superb piece of control before scoring in the 90th minute to spare the Indomitable Lions' blushes as they got their Group M campaign under way with a win.

Congo drew 1-1 with Kenya in Group E.

Kenya winger Paul Were gave the visitors the lead in the 12th minute after breaking down the flank, but Prince Oniangue secured a share of the spoils when he converted a 37th-minute penalty after Jackson Saleh's handball.